When describing the Day of Judgement and the state of the people, Allah `azza wa jall says:

يَوْمَ يَكُونُ النَّاسُ كَالْفَرَاشِ الْمَبْثُوثِ
“It is a Day whereon mankind will be like moths scattered about…” [al-Qari’ah: 4]

But in Soorah al-Qamar, He says:

خُشَّعاً أَبْصَارُهُمْ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ الْأَجْدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمْ جَرَادٌ مُّنتَشِرٌ
“They will come forth, with humbled eyes from the graves as if they were locusts spread abroad…” [al-Qamar: 7]

At one point, Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa describes Mankind as moths and another time as locusts. Scientifically speaking, the two species of insects differ greatly when it comes to their interactions. Moths are usually scattered around whereas locusts only ever travel in groups tightly bonded.

So why the two different descriptions?

Shaykh Salih al-Maghamisi (hafidhahullah) says the reasons for this lies in the stages of the Day of Judgement. When the ressurrection first takes place and people exit from their graves, they will be like moths – scattered around, blinded, running away from each other in extreme fear and daze, unaware of where to go! Until a Caller will call:

يَوْمَئِذٍ يَتَّبِعُونَ الدَّاعِيَ لَا عِوَجَ لَهُ وَخَشَعَت الْأَصْوَاتُ لِلرَّحْمَنِ فَلَا تَسْمَعُ إِلَّا هَمْساً
“On that Day mankind will follow strictly (the voice of) Allah’s caller, no crookedness will they show him (Allah’s caller). And all voices will be humbled for the Most Beneficent, and nothing shall you hear but the low voice of their footsteps.” [Ta Ha: 108]

Then Mankind will gather and form like locusts travelling in groups, following the call towards the plains of Judgement.

Subhanallah look at the deep benefit in truly knowing the descriptions given by Allah, especially those that He uses to describe us! We get a clearer picture of our state on yawm al-Qiyaamah and how it changes from one situation to another… from scattered moths to grouped locusts. Allahul Musta’aan, may Allah make us from the foremost group headed for al-Firdaws. Ameen!